1
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Sachdev S, Creemer BA, Gardella TJ, Cheloha RW. Highly biased agonism for GPCR ligands via nanobody tethering. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4687. [PMID: 38824166 PMCID: PMC11144202 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49068-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Ligand-induced activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can initiate signaling through multiple distinct pathways with differing biological and physiological outcomes. There is intense interest in understanding how variation in GPCR ligand structure can be used to promote pathway selective signaling ("biased agonism") with the goal of promoting desirable responses and avoiding deleterious side effects. Here we present an approach in which a conventional peptide ligand for the type 1 parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR1) is converted from an agonist which induces signaling through all relevant pathways to a compound that is highly selective for a single pathway. This is achieved not through variation in the core structure of the agonist, but rather by linking it to a nanobody tethering agent that binds with high affinity to a separate site on the receptor not involved in signal transduction. The resulting conjugate represents the most biased agonist of PTHR1 reported to date. This approach holds promise for facile generation of pathway selective ligands for other GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Sachdev
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bathesda, MD, USA
| | - Brendan A Creemer
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bathesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas J Gardella
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ross W Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bathesda, MD, USA.
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2
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Smith JS, Hilibrand AS, Skiba MA, Dates AN, Calvillo-Miranda VG, Kruse AC. The M3 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Can Signal through Multiple G Protein Families. Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:386-394. [PMID: 38641412 PMCID: PMC11114115 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that regulates important physiologic processes, including vascular tone, bronchoconstriction, and insulin secretion. It is expressed on a wide variety of cell types, including pancreatic beta, smooth muscle, neuronal, and immune cells. Agonist binding to the M3R is thought to initiate intracellular signaling events primarily through the heterotrimeric G protein Gq. However, reports differ on the ability of M3R to couple to other G proteins beyond Gq. Using members from the four primary G protein families (Gq, Gi, Gs, and G13) in radioligand binding, GTP turnover experiments, and cellular signaling assays, including live cell G protein dissociation and second messenger assessment of cAMP and inositol trisphosphate, we show that other G protein families, particularly Gi and Gs, can also interact with the human M3R. We further show that these interactions are productive as assessed by amplification of classic second messenger signaling events. Our findings demonstrate that the M3R is more promiscuous with respect to G protein interactions than previously appreciated. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The study reveals that the human M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R), known for its pivotal roles in diverse physiological processes, not only activates intracellular signaling via Gq as previously known but also functionally interacts with other G protein families such as Gi and Gs, expanding our understanding of its versatility in mediating cellular responses. These findings signify a broader and more complex regulatory network governed by M3R and have implications for therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey S Smith
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
| | - Ari S Hilibrand
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
| | - Meredith A Skiba
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
| | - Andrew N Dates
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
| | - Victor G Calvillo-Miranda
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
| | - Andrew C Kruse
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S., A.S.H., M.A.S., A.N.D., V.G.C.-M., A.C.K.) and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (J.S.S.)
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3
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Skiba MA, Sterling SM, Rawson S, Zhang S, Xu H, Jiang H, Nemeth GR, Gilman MSA, Hurley JD, Shen P, Staus DP, Kim J, McMahon C, Lehtinen MK, Rockman HA, Barth P, Wingler LM, Kruse AC. Antibodies expand the scope of angiotensin receptor pharmacology. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01620-6. [PMID: 38744986 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01620-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key regulators of human physiology and are the targets of many small-molecule research compounds and therapeutic drugs. While most of these ligands bind to their target GPCR with high affinity, selectivity is often limited at the receptor, tissue and cellular levels. Antibodies have the potential to address these limitations but their properties as GPCR ligands remain poorly characterized. Here, using protein engineering, pharmacological assays and structural studies, we develop maternally selective heavy-chain-only antibody ('nanobody') antagonists against the angiotensin II type I receptor and uncover the unusual molecular basis of their receptor antagonism. We further show that our nanobodies can simultaneously bind to angiotensin II type I receptor with specific small-molecule antagonists and demonstrate that ligand selectivity can be readily tuned. Our work illustrates that antibody fragments can exhibit rich and evolvable pharmacology, attesting to their potential as next-generation GPCR modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A Skiba
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah M Sterling
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cryo-EM Facility at MIT.nano, Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shaun Rawson
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shuhao Zhang
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Huixin Xu
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Haoran Jiang
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Genevieve R Nemeth
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Morgan S A Gilman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph D Hurley
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pengxiang Shen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Dean P Staus
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Septerna, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jihee Kim
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Conor McMahon
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Sanofi, Large Molecule Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Maria K Lehtinen
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Howard A Rockman
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Patrick Barth
- Interfaculty Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Laura M Wingler
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew C Kruse
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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Mukhaleva E, Ma N, van der Velden WJC, Gogoshin G, Branciamore S, Bhattacharya S, Rodin AS, Vaidehi N. Bayesian network models identify cooperative GPCR:G protein interactions that contribute to G protein coupling. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107362. [PMID: 38735478 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cooperative interactions in protein-protein interfaces demonstrate the interdependency or the linked network-like behavior and their effect on the coupling of proteins. Cooperative interactions also could cause ripple or allosteric effects at a distance in protein-protein interfaces. Although they are critically important in protein-protein interfaces, it is challenging to determine which amino acid pair interactions are cooperative. In this work, we have used Bayesian network modeling, an interpretable machine learning method, combined with molecular dynamics trajectories to identify the residue pairs that show high cooperativity and their allosteric effect in the interface of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) complexes with Gα subunits. Our results reveal six GPCR:Gα contacts that are common to the different Gα subtypes and show strong cooperativity in the formation of interface. Both the C terminus helix5 and the core of the G protein are codependent entities and play an important role in GPCR coupling. We show that a promiscuous GPCR coupling to different Gα subtypes, makes all the GPCR:Gα contacts that are specific to each Gα subtype (Gαs, Gαi, and Gαq). This work underscores the potential of data-driven Bayesian network modeling in elucidating the intricate dependencies and selectivity determinants in GPCR:G protein complexes, offering valuable insights into the dynamic nature of these essential cellular signaling components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Mukhaleva
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Wijnand J C van der Velden
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Grigoriy Gogoshin
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Sergio Branciamore
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.
| | - Andrei S Rodin
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, California, USA.
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5
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Culhuac EB, Bello M. Evaluation of Urtica dioica Phytochemicals against Therapeutic Targets of Allergic Rhinitis Using Computational Studies. Molecules 2024; 29:1765. [PMID: 38675586 PMCID: PMC11052477 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent inflammatory condition affecting millions globally, with current treatments often associated with significant side effects. To seek safer and more effective alternatives, natural sources like Urtica dioica (UD) are being explored. However, UD's mechanism of action remains unknown. Therefore, to elucidate it, we conducted an in silico evaluation of UD phytochemicals' effects on known therapeutic targets of allergic rhinitis: histamine receptor 1 (HR1), neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CLR1), chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on type 2 helper T cells (CRTH2), and bradykinin receptor type 2 (BK2R). The docking analysis identified amentoflavone, alpha-tocotrienol, neoxanthin, and isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside as possessing a high affinity for all the receptors. Subsequently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to analyze the key interactions; the free energy of binding was calculated through Generalized Born and Surface Area Solvation (MMGBSA), and the conformational changes were evaluated. Alpha-tocotrienol exhibited a high affinity while also inducing positive conformational changes across all targets. Amentoflavone primarily affected CRTH2, neoxanthin targeted NK1R, CRTH2, and BK2R, and isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside acted on NK1R. These findings suggest UD's potential to treat AR symptoms by inhibiting these targets. Notably, alpha-tocotrienol emerges as a promising multi-target inhibitor. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are needed for validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Bahena Culhuac
- Laboratorio de Diseño y Desarrollo de Nuevos Fármacos e Innovación Biotecnológica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico;
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca 50000, Mexico
| | - Martiniano Bello
- Laboratorio de Diseño y Desarrollo de Nuevos Fármacos e Innovación Biotecnológica, Escuela Superior de Medicina, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México 11340, Mexico;
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6
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Zhantleuova A, Leese C, Andreou AP, Karimova A, Carpenter G, Davletov B. Recent Developments in Engineering Non-Paralytic Botulinum Molecules for Therapeutic Applications. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:175. [PMID: 38668600 PMCID: PMC11054698 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16040175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the expanding application of botulinum neurotoxin in treating neurological conditions. The article specifically explores novel approaches to using non-paralytic botulinum molecules. These new molecules, such as BiTox or el-iBoNT, offer an alternative for patients who face limitations in using paralytic forms of botulinum neurotoxin due to concerns about muscle function loss. We highlight the research findings that confirm not only the effectiveness of these molecules but also their reduced paralytic effect. We also discuss a potential cause for the diminished paralytic action of these molecules, specifically changes in the spatial parameters of the new botulinum molecules. In summary, this article reviews the current research that enhances our understanding of the application of new botulinum neurotoxins in the context of common conditions and suggests new avenues for developing more efficient molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha Zhantleuova
- Department of Biophysics, Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty A15E3C7, Kazakhstan; (A.Z.); (A.K.)
| | - Charlotte Leese
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2JA, UK;
| | - Anna P. Andreou
- Headache Research, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK;
- Neuresta, Inc., San Diego, CA 91991, USA
| | - Altynay Karimova
- Department of Biophysics, Biomedicine and Neuroscience, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty A15E3C7, Kazakhstan; (A.Z.); (A.K.)
| | - Guy Carpenter
- Salivary Research, Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dental, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK;
| | - Bazbek Davletov
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2JA, UK;
- Neuresta, Inc., San Diego, CA 91991, USA
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7
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Pan B, Guo C, Liu D, Wüthrich K. Fluorine-19 labeling of the tryptophan residues in the G protein-coupled receptor NK1R using the 5-fluoroindole precursor in Pichia pastoris expression. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2024:10.1007/s10858-024-00439-6. [PMID: 38554216 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-024-00439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
In NMR spectroscopy of biomolecular systems, the use of fluorine-19 probes benefits from a clean background and high sensitivity. Therefore, 19F-labeling procedures are of wide-spread interest. Here, we use 5-fluoroindole as a precursor for cost-effective residue-specific introduction of 5-fluorotryptophan (5F-Trp) into G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) expressed in Pichia pastoris. The method was successfully implemented with the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). The 19F-NMR spectra of 5F-Trp-labeled NK1R showed one well-separated high field-shifted resonance, which was assigned by mutational studies to the "toggle switch tryptophan". Residue-selective labeling thus enables site-specific investigations of this functionally important residue. The method described here is inexpensive, requires minimal genetic manipulation and can be expected to be applicable for yeast expression of GPCRs at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benxun Pan
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Canyong Guo
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Kurt Wüthrich
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biophysics, ETH Zürich, Otto-Stern-Weg 5, Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
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8
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Imamura K, Akagi KI, Miyanoiri Y, Tsujimoto H, Hirokawa T, Ashida H, Murakami K, Inoue A, Suno R, Ikegami T, Sekiyama N, Iwata S, Kobayashi T, Tochio H. Interaction modes of human orexin 2 receptor with selective and nonselective antagonists studied by NMR spectroscopy. Structure 2024; 32:352-361.e5. [PMID: 38194963 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2023.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Orexin neuropeptides have many physiological roles in the sleep-wake cycle, feeding behavior, reward demands, and stress responses by activating cognitive receptors, the orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R), distributed in the brain. There are only subtle differences between OX1R and OX2R in the orthosteric site, which has hindered the rational development of subtype-selective antagonists. In this study, we utilized solution-state NMR to capture the structural plasticity of OX2R labeled with 13CH3-ε-methionine in complex with antagonists. Mutations in the orthosteric site allosterically affected the intracellular tip of TM6. Ligand exchange experiments with the subtype-selective EMPA and the nonselective suvorexant identified three methionine residues that were substantially perturbed. The NMR spectra suggested that the suvorexant-bound state exhibited more structural plasticity than the EMPA-bound state, which has not been foreseen from the close similarity of their crystal structures, providing insights into dynamic features to be considered in understanding the ligand recognition mode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Imamura
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Akagi
- Section of Laboratory Equipment, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health, and Nutrition, Osaka 567-0085, Japan
| | - Yohei Miyanoiri
- Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Tsujimoto
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takatsugu Hirokawa
- Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan; Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Hideo Ashida
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kaori Murakami
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Asuka Inoue
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ryoji Suno
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Japan
| | - Takahisa Ikegami
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Naotaka Sekiyama
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - So Iwata
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Chemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Takuya Kobayashi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata 573-1010, Japan
| | - Hidehito Tochio
- Department of Biophysics, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
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9
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Braga Emidio N, Cheloha RW. Semi-synthetic nanobody-ligand conjugates exhibit tunable signaling properties and enhanced transcriptional outputs at neurokinin receptor-1. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e4866. [PMID: 38088474 PMCID: PMC10806929 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies have proven highly valuable for therapeutic development; however, they are typically poor candidates for applications that require activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest collection of targets for clinically approved drugs. Nanobodies (Nbs), the smallest antibody fragments retaining full antigen-binding capacity, have emerged as promising tools for pharmacologic applications, including GPCR modulation. Past work has shown that conjugation of Nbs with ligands can provide GPCR agonists that exhibit improved activity and selectivity compared to their parent ligands. The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR targeted for the treatment of pain, is activated by peptide agonists such as Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), which induce signaling through multiple pathways (Gs , Gq and β-arrestin). In this study, we investigated whether conjugating NK1R ligands with Nbs that bind to a separate location on the receptor would provide chimeric compounds with distinctive signaling properties. We employed sortase A-mediated ligation to generate several conjugates consisting of Nbs linked to NK1R ligands. Many of these conjugates exhibited divergent and unexpected signaling properties and transcriptional outputs. For example, some Nb-NKA conjugates showed enhanced receptor binding capacity, high potency partial agonism, prolonged cAMP production, and an increase in transcriptional output associated with Gs signaling; whereas other conjugates were virtually inactive. Nanobody conjugation caused only minor alterations in ligand-induced upstream Gq signaling with unexpected enhancements in transcriptional (downstream) responses. Our findings underscore the potential of nanobody conjugation for providing compounds with advantageous properties such as biased agonism, prolonged duration of action, and enhanced transcriptional responses. These compounds hold promise not only for facilitating fundamental research on GPCR signal transduction mechanisms but also for the development of more potent and enduring therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney DiseasesNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMarylandUSA
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10
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Chen M, Schmid MF, Chiu W. Improving resolution and resolvability of single-particle cryoEM structures using Gaussian mixture models. Nat Methods 2024; 21:37-40. [PMID: 37973972 PMCID: PMC10860619 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Cryogenic electron microscopy is widely used in structural biology, but its resolution is often limited by the dynamics of the macromolecule. Here we developed a refinement protocol based on Gaussian mixture models that integrates particle orientation and conformation estimation and improves the alignment for flexible domains of protein structures. We demonstrated this protocol on multiple datasets, resulting in improved resolution and resolvability, locally and globally, by visual and quantitative measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muyuan Chen
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA.
| | - Michael F Schmid
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- Division of CryoEM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, and of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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11
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Lv X, Gao K, Nie J, Zhang X, Zhang S, Ren Y, Sun X, Li Q, Huang J, Liu L, Zhang X, Zhang W, Liu X. Structures of human prostaglandin F 2α receptor reveal the mechanism of ligand and G protein selectivity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8136. [PMID: 38065938 PMCID: PMC10709307 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43922-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostaglandins and their receptors regulate various physiological processes. Carboprost, an analog of prostaglandin F2α and an agonist for the prostaglandin F2-alpha receptor (FP receptor), is clinically used to treat postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, off-target activation of closely related receptors such as the prostaglandin E receptor subtype EP3 (EP3 receptor) by carboprost results in side effects and limits the clinical application. Meanwhile, the FP receptor selective agonist latanoprost is not suitable to treat PPH due to its poor solubility and fast clearance. Here, we present two cryo-EM structures of the FP receptor bound to carboprost and latanoprost-FA (the free acid form of latanoprost) at 2.7 Å and 3.2 Å resolution, respectively. The structures reveal the molecular mechanism of FP receptor selectivity for both endogenous prostaglandins and clinical drugs, as well as the molecular mechanism of G protein coupling preference by the prostaglandin receptors. The structural information may guide the development of better prostaglandin drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqing Lv
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kaixuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Nie
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuhao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinhang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoou Sun
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jingrui Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaowen Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weishe Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center of Early Life Development and Disease Prevention, Changsha, China.
| | - Xiangyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Receptors Research, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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12
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Sun D, Sun Y, Janezic E, Zhou T, Johnson M, Azumaya C, Noreng S, Chiu C, Seki A, Arenzana TL, Nicoludis JM, Shi Y, Wang B, Ho H, Joshi P, Tam C, Payandeh J, Comps-Agrar L, Wang J, Rutz S, Koerber JT, Masureel M. Structural basis of antibody inhibition and chemokine activation of the human CC chemokine receptor 8. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7940. [PMID: 38040762 PMCID: PMC10692165 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43601-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The C-C motif chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) is a class A G-protein coupled receptor that has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Targeting CCR8 with an antibody has appeared to be an attractive therapeutic approach, but the molecular basis for chemokine-mediated activation and antibody-mediated inhibition of CCR8 are not fully elucidated. Here, we obtain an antagonist antibody against human CCR8 and determine structures of CCR8 in complex with either the antibody or the endogenous agonist ligand CCL1. Our studies reveal characteristic antibody features allowing recognition of the CCR8 extracellular loops and CCL1-CCR8 interaction modes that are distinct from other chemokine receptor - ligand pairs. Informed by these structural insights, we demonstrate that CCL1 follows a two-step, two-site binding sequence to CCR8 and that antibody-mediated inhibition of CCL1 signaling can occur by preventing the second binding event. Together, our results provide a detailed structural and mechanistic framework of CCR8 activation and inhibition that expands our molecular understanding of chemokine - receptor interactions and offers insight into the development of therapeutic antibodies targeting chemokine GPCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Sun
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yonglian Sun
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Eric Janezic
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Tricia Zhou
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Matthew Johnson
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Caleigh Azumaya
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sigrid Noreng
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Septerna Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Cecilia Chiu
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Akiko Seki
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Tune Therapeutics, Durham, NC, 27701, USA
| | - Teresita L Arenzana
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- HIBio, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - John M Nicoludis
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yongchang Shi
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Baomei Wang
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hoangdung Ho
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Prajakta Joshi
- Department of Biomolecular Resources, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Christine Tam
- Department of Biomolecular Resources, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jian Payandeh
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
- Exelixis Inc., Alameda, CA, 94502, USA
| | - Laëtitia Comps-Agrar
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jianyong Wang
- Department of Biochemical and Cellular Pharmacology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sascha Rutz
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
| | - James T Koerber
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
| | - Matthieu Masureel
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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13
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Madsen JJ, Petersen JE, Christensen DP, Hansen JB, Schwartz TW, Frimurer TM, Olsen OH. Deciphering specificity and cross-reactivity in tachykinin NK1 and NK2 receptors. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105438. [PMID: 37944618 PMCID: PMC10724690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The tachykinin receptors neurokinin 1 (NK1R) and neurokinin 2 (NK2R) are G protein-coupled receptors that bind preferentially to the natural peptide ligands substance P and neurokinin A, respectively, and have been targets for drug development. Despite sharing a common C-terminal sequence of Phe-X-Gly-Leu-Met-NH2 that helps direct biological function, the peptide ligands exhibit some degree of cross-reactivity toward each other's non-natural receptor. Here, we investigate the detailed structure-activity relationships of the ligand-bound receptor complexes that underlie both potent activation by the natural ligand and cross-reactivity. We find that the specificity and cross-reactivity of the peptide ligands can be explained by the interactions between the amino acids preceding the FxGLM consensus motif of the bound peptide ligand and two regions of the receptor: the β-hairpin of the extracellular loop 2 (ECL2) and a N-terminal segment leading into transmembrane helix 1. Positively charged sidechains of the ECL2 (R177 of NK1R and K180 of NK2R) are seen to play a vital role in the interaction. The N-terminal positions 1 to 3 of the peptide ligand are entirely dispensable. Mutated and chimeric receptor and ligand constructs neatly swap around ligand specificity as expected, validating the structure-activity hypotheses presented. These findings will help in developing improved agonists or antagonists for NK1R and NK2R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper J Madsen
- Global and Planetary Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA; Center for Global Health and Infectious Diseases Research, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Jacob E Petersen
- Section for Metabolic Receptology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Thue W Schwartz
- Section for Metabolic Receptology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas M Frimurer
- Section for Metabolic Receptology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole H Olsen
- Section for Metabolic Receptology, Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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14
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Coveñas R, Rodríguez FD, Robinson P, Muñoz M. The Repurposing of Non-Peptide Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists as Antitumor Drugs: An Urgent Challenge for Aprepitant. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15936. [PMID: 37958914 PMCID: PMC10650658 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The substance P (SP)/neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) system is involved in cancer progression. NK-1R, activated by SP, promotes tumor cell proliferation and migration, angiogenesis, the Warburg effect, and the prevention of apoptosis. Tumor cells overexpress NK-1R, which influences their viability. A typical specific anticancer strategy using NK-1R antagonists, irrespective of the tumor type, is possible because these antagonists block all the effects mentioned above mediated by SP on cancer cells. This review will update the information regarding using NK-1R antagonists, particularly Aprepitant, as an anticancer drug. Aprepitant shows a broad-spectrum anticancer effect against many tumor types. Aprepitant alone or in combination therapy with radiotherapy or chemotherapy could reduce the sequelae and increase the cure rate and quality of life of patients with cancer. Current data open the door to new cancer research aimed at antitumor therapeutic strategies using Aprepitant. To achieve this goal, reprofiling the antiemetic Aprepitant as an anticancer drug is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Coveñas
- Laboratory of Neuroanatomy of the Peptidergic Systems, Institute of Neurosciences of Castilla y León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Group GIR-BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Francisco D. Rodríguez
- Group GIR-BMD (Bases Moleculares del Desarrollo), University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Chemical Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Prema Robinson
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control, and Employee Health, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Miguel Muñoz
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Research Laboratory on Neuropeptides (IBIS), Virgen del Rocío University Hospital, 41013 Seville, Spain;
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15
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Sachdev S, Creemer BA, Gardella TJ, Cheloha RW. Highly biased agonism for GPCR ligands via nanobody tethering. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.10.561766. [PMID: 37873435 PMCID: PMC10592785 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.10.561766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Ligand-induced activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can initiate signaling through multiple distinct pathways with differing biological and physiological outcomes. There is intense interest in understanding how variation in GPCR ligand structure can be used to promote pathway selective signaling ("biased agonism") with the goal of promoting desirable responses and avoiding deleterious side effects. Here we present a new approach in which a conventional peptide ligand for the type 1 parathyroid hormone receptor (PTHR1) is converted from an agonist which induces signaling through all relevant pathways to a compound that is highly selective for a single pathway. This is achieved not through variation in the core structure of the agonist, but rather by linking it to a nanobody tethering agent that binds with high affinity to a separate site on the receptor not involved in signal transduction. The resulting conjugate represents the most biased agonist of PTHR1 reported to date. This approach holds promise for facile generation of pathway selective ligands for other GPCRs.
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16
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Mukhaleva E, Ma N, van der Velden WJC, Gogoshin G, Branciamore S, Bhattacharya S, Rodin AS, Vaidehi N. Bayesian network models identify co-operative GPCR:G protein interactions that contribute to G protein coupling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.09.561618. [PMID: 37873104 PMCID: PMC10592737 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.09.561618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Cooperative interactions in protein-protein interfaces demonstrate the interdependency or the linked network-like behavior of interface interactions and their effect on the coupling of proteins. Cooperative interactions also could cause ripple or allosteric effects at a distance in protein-protein interfaces. Although they are critically important in protein-protein interfaces it is challenging to determine which amino acid pair interactions are cooperative. In this work we have used Bayesian network modeling, an interpretable machine learning method, combined with molecular dynamics trajectories to identify the residue pairs that show high cooperativity and their allosteric effect in the interface of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) complexes with G proteins. Our results reveal a strong co-dependency in the formation of interface GPCR:G protein contacts. This observation indicates that cooperativity of GPCR:G protein interactions is necessary for the coupling and selectivity of G proteins and is thus critical for receptor function. We have identified subnetworks containing polar and hydrophobic interactions that are common among multiple GPCRs coupling to different G protein subtypes (Gs, Gi and Gq). These common subnetworks along with G protein-specific subnetworks together confer selectivity to the G protein coupling. This work underscores the potential of data-driven Bayesian network modeling in elucidating the intricate dependencies and selectivity determinants in GPCR:G protein complexes, offering valuable insights into the dynamic nature of these essential cellular signaling components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta Mukhaleva
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Ning Ma
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Wijnand J. C. van der Velden
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Grigoriy Gogoshin
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Sergio Branciamore
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Supriyo Bhattacharya
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Andrei S. Rodin
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
| | - Nagarajan Vaidehi
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
- Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010
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17
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Emidio NB, Cheloha RW. Semi-synthetic nanobody-ligand conjugates exhibit tunable signaling properties and enhanced transcriptional outputs at neurokinin receptor-1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.08.561411. [PMID: 37986858 PMCID: PMC10659424 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.08.561411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies have proven highly valuable for therapeutic development; however, they are typically poor candidates for applications that require activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest collection of targets for clinically approved drugs. Nanobodies (Nbs), the smallest antibody fragments retaining full antigen-binding capacity, have emerged as promising tools for pharmacologic applications, including GPCR modulation. Past work has shown that conjugation of Nbs with ligands can provide GPCR agonists that exhibit improved activity and selectivity compared to their parent ligands. The neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR targeted for the treatment of pain, is activated by peptide agonists such as Substance P (SP) and neurokinin A (NKA), which induce signaling through multiple pathways (Gs, Gq and β-arrestin). In this study, we investigated whether conjugating NK1R ligands with Nbs that bind to a separate location on the receptor would provide chimeric compounds with distinctive signaling properties. We employed sortase A-mediated ligation to generate several conjugates consisting of Nbs linked to NK1R ligands. Many of these conjugates exhibited divergent and unexpected signaling properties and transcriptional outputs. For example, some Nb-NKA conjugates showed enhanced receptor binding capacity, high potency partial agonism, prolonged cAMP production, and an increase in transcriptional output associated with Gs signaling; whereas other conjugates were virtually inactive. Nanobody conjugation caused only minor alterations in ligand-induced upstream Gq signaling with unexpected enhancements in transcriptional (downstream) responses. Our findings underscore the potential of nanobody conjugation for providing compounds with advantageous properties such as biased agonism, prolonged duration of action, and enhanced transcriptional responses. These compounds hold promise not only for facilitating fundamental research on GPCR signal transduction mechanisms but also for the development of more potent and enduring therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nayara Braga Emidio
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
| | - Ross W. Cheloha
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20894, United States
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18
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Nie Y, Qiu Z, Chen S, Chen Z, Song X, Ma Y, Huang N, Cyster JG, Zheng S. Specific binding of GPR174 by endogenous lysophosphatidylserine leads to high constitutive G s signaling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5901. [PMID: 37737235 PMCID: PMC10516915 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41654-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Many orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) remain understudied because their endogenous ligands are unknown. Here, we show that a group of class A/rhodopsin-like orphan GPCRs including GPR61, GPR161 and GPR174 increase the cAMP level similarly to fully activated D1 dopamine receptor (D1R). We report cryo-electron microscopy structures of the GPR61‒Gs, GPR161‒Gs and GPR174‒Gs complexes without any exogenous ligands. The GPR174 structure reveals that endogenous lysophosphatidylserine (lysoPS) is copurified. While GPR174 fails to respond to exogenous lysoPS, likely owing to its maximal activation by the endogenous ligand, GPR174 mutants with lower ligand binding affinities can be specifically activated by lysoPS but not other lipids, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, GPR174 adopts a non-canonical Gs coupling mode. The structures of GPR161 and GPR61 reveal that the second extracellular loop (ECL2) penetrates into the orthosteric pocket, possibly contributing to constitutive activity. Our work definitively confirms lysoPS as an endogenous GPR174 ligand and suggests that high constitutive activity of some orphan GPCRs could be accounted for by their having naturally abundant ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Nie
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Zeming Qiu
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Sijia Chen
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaocui Song
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Ma
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Niu Huang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Jason G Cyster
- HHMI, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Sanduo Zheng
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China.
- Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China.
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19
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Daly C, Plouffe B. Gα q signalling from endosomes: A new conundrum. Br J Pharmacol 2023. [PMID: 37740273 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of membrane receptors, and are involved in the transmission of a variety of extracellular stimuli such as hormones, neurotransmitters, light and odorants into intracellular responses. They regulate every aspect of physiology and, for this reason, about one third of all marketed drugs target these receptors. Classically, upon binding to their agonist, GPCRs are thought to activate G-proteins from the plasma membrane and to stop signalling by subsequent desensitisation and endocytosis. However, accumulating evidence indicates that, upon internalisation, some GPCRs can continue to activate G-proteins in endosomes. Importantly, this signalling from endomembranes mediates alternative cellular responses other than signalling at the plasma membrane. Endosomal G-protein signalling and its physiological relevance have been abundantly documented for Gαs - and Gαi -coupled receptors. Recently, some Gαq -coupled receptors have been reported to activate Gαq on endosomes and mediate important cellular processes. However, several questions relative to the series of cellular events required to translate endosomal Gαq activation into cellular responses remain unanswered and constitute a new conundrum. How are these responses in endosomes mediated in the quasi absence of the substrate for the canonical Gαq -activated effector? Is there another effector? Is there another substrate? If so, how does this alternative endosomal effector or substrate produce a downstream signal? This review aims to unravel and discuss these important questions, and proposes possible routes of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Daly
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Bianca Plouffe
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
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20
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Chen J, Ye P, Gu R, Zhu H, He W, Mu X, Wu X, Pang H, Han F, Nie X. Neuropeptide substance P: A promising regulator of wound healing in diabetic foot ulcers. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 215:115736. [PMID: 37549795 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
In the past, neuropeptide substance P (SP) was predominantly recognized as a neuroinflammatory factor, while its potent healing activity was overlooked. This paper aims to review the regulatory characteristics of neuropeptide SP in both normal and diabetic wound healing. SP actively in the regulation of wound healing-related cells directly and indirectly, exhibiting robust inflammatory properties, promoting cell proliferation and migration and restoring the activity and paracrine ability of skin cells under diabetic conditions. Furthermore, SP not only regulates healing-related cells but also orchestrates the immune environment, thereby presenting unique and promising application prospects in wound intervention. As new SP-based preparations are being explored, SP-related drugs are poised to become an effective therapeutic intervention for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitao Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Penghui Ye
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Rifang Gu
- University Medical Office, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Huan Zhu
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Wenjie He
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xingrui Mu
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Xingqian Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China
| | - Huiwen Pang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Felicity Han
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xuqiang Nie
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China; Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Key Lab of the Basic Pharmacology of the Ministry of Education & Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Chinese Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, China.
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21
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Skiba MA, Sterling SM, Rawson S, Gilman MS, Xu H, Nemeth GR, Hurley JD, Shen P, Staus DP, Kim J, McMahon C, Lehtinen MK, Wingler LM, Kruse AC. Antibodies Expand the Scope of Angiotensin Receptor Pharmacology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.23.554128. [PMID: 37662341 PMCID: PMC10473732 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.23.554128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are key regulators of human physiology and are the targets of many small molecule research compounds and therapeutic drugs. While most of these ligands bind to their target GPCR with high affinity, selectivity is often limited at the receptor, tissue, and cellular level. Antibodies have the potential to address these limitations but their properties as GPCR ligands remain poorly characterized. Here, using protein engineering, pharmacological assays, and structural studies, we develop maternally selective heavy chain-only antibody ("nanobody") antagonists against the angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) and uncover the unusual molecular basis of their receptor antagonism. We further show that our nanobodies can simultaneously bind to AT1R with specific small-molecule antagonists and demonstrate that ligand selectivity can be readily tuned. Our work illustrates that antibody fragments can exhibit rich and evolvable pharmacology, attesting to their potential as next-generation GPCR modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith A. Skiba
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Sarah M. Sterling
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Shaun Rawson
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Morgan S.A. Gilman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Huixin Xu
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Genevieve R. Nemeth
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Joseph D. Hurley
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Pengxiang Shen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Dean P. Staus
- Department of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jihee Kim
- Department of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Conor McMahon
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maria K. Lehtinen
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Laura M. Wingler
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Andrew C. Kruse
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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22
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Sun W, Yang F, Zhang H, Yuan Q, Ling S, Wang Y, Lv P, Li Z, Luo Y, Liu D, Yin W, Shi P, Xu HE, Tian C. Structural insights into neurokinin 3 receptor activation by endogenous and analogue peptide agonists. Cell Discov 2023; 9:66. [PMID: 37391393 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00564-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurokinin 3 receptor (NK3R) is a tachykinin receptor essential for the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. The endogenous peptide agonist neurokinin B (NKB) preferentially activates NK3R, while substance P (SP) binds preferentially to NK1R. In addition, the SP analogue senktide more potently activates NK3R than NKB and SP. However, the mechanisms of preferential binding of peptide and NK3R activation remain elusive. Herein, we determined the cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of the NK3R-Gq complex bound to NKB, SP and senktide. The three NK3R-Gq/peptide complexes utilize a class of noncanonical receptor activation mechanisms. Combining the structural analysis and functional assay illustrated that the consensus C-termini of the three peptide agonists share a conserved binding mode to NK3R, while the divergent N-termini of the peptides confer the preferential binding of the agonist to NK3R. In addition, the specific interactions between the N-terminus of senktide and the N-terminus and extracellular loops (ECL2 and ECL3) of NK3R lead to the improved activation displayed by senktide compared to SP and NKB. These findings pave the way to understand tachykinin receptor subtype selectivity and provide ideas to rationally develop drugs targeting NK3R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Sun
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qingning Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shenglong Ling
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuanxia Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pei Lv
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zelin Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yifan Luo
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Dongsheng Liu
- iHuman Institute, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanchao Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Pan Shi
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - H Eric Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Changlin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- The Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Resonance Image, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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23
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Jang W, Lu S, Xu X, Wu G, Lambert NA. The role of G protein conformation in receptor-G protein selectivity. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:687-694. [PMID: 36646958 PMCID: PMC10238660 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01231-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) selectively activate at least one of the four families of heterotrimeric G proteins, but the mechanism of coupling selectivity remains unclear. Structural studies emphasize structural complementarity of GPCRs and nucleotide-free G proteins, but selectivity is likely to be determined by transient intermediate-state complexes that exist before nucleotide release. Here we study coupling to nucleotide-decoupled G protein variants that can adopt conformations similar to receptor-bound G proteins without releasing nucleotide, and are therefore able to bypass intermediate-state complexes. We find that selectivity is degraded when nucleotide release is not required for GPCR-G protein complex formation, to the extent that most GPCRs interact with most nucleotide-decoupled G proteins. These findings demonstrate the absence of absolute structural incompatibility between noncognate receptor-G protein pairs, and are consistent with the hypothesis that transient intermediate states are partly responsible for coupling selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonjo Jang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
| | - Sumin Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Guangyu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Nevin A Lambert
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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24
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Zhang D, Liu Y, Zaidi SA, Xu L, Zhan Y, Chen A, Guo J, Huang X, Roth BL, Katritch V, Cherezov V, Zhang H. Structural insights into angiotensin receptor signaling modulation by balanced and biased agonists. EMBO J 2023; 42:e112940. [PMID: 37038975 PMCID: PMC10233375 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022112940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The peptide hormone angiotensin II regulates blood pressure mainly through the type 1 angiotensin II receptor AT1 R and its downstream signaling proteins Gq and β-arrestin. AT1 R blockers, clinically used as antihypertensive drugs, inhibit both signaling pathways, whereas AT1 R β-arrestin-biased agonists have shown great potential for the treatment of acute heart failure. Here, we present a cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the human AT1 R in complex with a balanced agonist, Sar1 -AngII, and Gq protein at 2.9 Å resolution. This structure, together with extensive functional assays and computational modeling, reveals the molecular mechanisms for AT1 R signaling modulation and suggests that a major hydrogen bond network (MHN) inside the receptor serves as a key regulator of AT1 R signal transduction from the ligand-binding pocket to both Gq and β-arrestin pathways. Specifically, we found that the MHN mutations N1113.35 A and N2947.45 A induce biased signaling to Gq and β-arrestin, respectively. These insights should facilitate AT1 R structure-based drug discovery for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqi Zhang
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yongfeng Liu
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (NIMH PDSP)University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Saheem A Zaidi
- Department of Quantitative and Computational BiologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Lingyi Xu
- Department of BiophysicsZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Yuting Zhan
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Anqi Chen
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jiangtao Guo
- Department of BiophysicsZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Department of Neurology of the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Xi‐Ping Huang
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (NIMH PDSP)University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Bryan L Roth
- Department of PharmacologyUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
- National Institute of Mental Health Psychoactive Drug Screening Program (NIMH PDSP)University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal ChemistryUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNCUSA
| | - Vsevolod Katritch
- Department of Quantitative and Computational BiologyUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
- Department of Chemistry, Bridge InstituteUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Vadim Cherezov
- Department of Chemistry, Bridge InstituteUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCAUSA
| | - Haitao Zhang
- Hangzhou Institute of Innovative Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
- The Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
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25
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Asadollahi K, Scott DJ, Gooley PR. NMR applications to GPCR recognition by peptide ligands. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2023; 70:102366. [PMID: 37003111 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2023.102366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Peptides form the largest group of ligands that modulate the activity of more than 120 different GPCRs. Among which linear disordered peptide ligands usually undergo significant conformational changes upon binding that is essential for receptor recognition and activation. Conformational selection and induced fit are the extreme mechanisms of coupled folding and binding that can be distinguished by analysis of binding pathways by methods that include NMR. However, the large size of GPCRs in membrane-mimetic environments limits NMR applications. In this review, we highlight advances in the field that can be adopted to address coupled folding and binding of peptide ligands to their cognate receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazem Asadollahi
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Daniel J Scott
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Paul R Gooley
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia; Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
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26
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Zhu Z, Bhatia M. Inflammation and Organ Injury the Role of Substance P and Its Receptors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076140. [PMID: 37047113 PMCID: PMC10094202 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Tightly controlled inflammation is an indispensable mechanism in the maintenance of cellular and organismal homeostasis in living organisms. However, aberrant inflammation is detrimental and has been suggested as a key contributor to organ injury with different etiologies. Substance P (SP) is a neuropeptide with a robust effect on inflammation. The proinflammatory effects of SP are achieved by activating its functional receptors, namely the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) receptor and mas-related G protein-coupled receptors X member 2 (MRGPRX2) and its murine homolog MRGPRB2. Upon activation, the receptors further signal to several cellular signaling pathways involved in the onset, development, and progression of inflammation. Therefore, excessive SP-NK1R or SP-MRGPRX2/B2 signals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation-associated organ injury. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of SP and its receptors and the emerging roles of the SP-NK1R system and the SP-MRGPRX2/B2 system in inflammation and injury in multiple organs resulting from different pathologies. We also briefly discuss the prospect of developing a therapeutic strategy for inflammatory organ injury by disrupting the proinflammatory actions of SP via pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixing Zhu
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Madhav Bhatia
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
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27
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Structures of human gastrin-releasing peptide receptors bound to antagonist and agonist for cancer and itch therapy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216230120. [PMID: 36724251 PMCID: PMC9963752 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216230120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrin releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), a member of the bombesin (BBN) G protein-coupled receptors, is aberrantly overexpressed in several malignant tumors, including those of the breast, prostate, pancreas, lung, and central nervous system. Additionally, it also mediates non-histaminergic itch and pathological itch conditions in mice. Thus, GRPR could be an attractive target for cancer and itch therapy. Here, we report the inactive state crystal structure of human GRPR in complex with the non-peptide antagonist PD176252, as well as two active state cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of GRPR bound to the endogenous peptide agonist gastrin-releasing peptide and the synthetic BBN analog [D-Phe6, β-Ala11, Phe13, Nle14] Bn (6-14), in complex with Gq heterotrimers. These structures revealed the molecular mechanisms for the ligand binding, receptor activation, and Gq proteins signaling of GRPR, which are expected to accelerate the structure-based design of GRPR antagonists and agonists for the treatments of cancer and pruritus.
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28
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Molecular basis for the selective G protein signaling of somatostatin receptors. Nat Chem Biol 2023; 19:133-140. [PMID: 36138141 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-022-01130-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) modulate every aspect of physiological functions mainly through activating heterotrimeric G proteins. A majority of GPCRs promiscuously couple to multiple G protein subtypes. Here we validate that in addition to the well-known Gi/o pathway, somatostatin receptor 2 and 5 (SSTR2 and SSTR5) couple to the Gq/11 pathway and show that smaller ligands preferentially activate the Gi/o pathway. We further determined cryo-electron microscopy structures of the SSTR2‒Go and SSTR2‒Gq complexes bound to octreotide and SST-14. Structural and functional analysis revealed that G protein selectivity of SSTRs is not only determined by structural elements in the receptor-G protein interface, but also by the conformation of the agonist-binding pocket. Accordingly, smaller ligands fail to stabilize a broader agonist-binding pocket of SSTRs that is required for efficient Gq/11 coupling but not Gi/o coupling. Our studies facilitate the design of drugs with selective G protein signaling to improve therapeutic efficacy.
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29
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Shi Y, Chen Y, Deng L, Du K, Lu S, Chen T. Structural Understanding of Peptide-Bound G Protein-Coupled Receptors: Peptide-Target Interactions. J Med Chem 2023; 66:1083-1111. [PMID: 36625741 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is triggered by ligand binding to their orthosteric sites, which induces ligand-specific conformational changes. Agonists and antagonists bound to GPCR orthosteric sites provide detailed information on ligand-binding modes. Among these, peptide ligands play an instrumental role in GPCR pharmacology and have attracted increased attention as therapeutic drugs. The recent breakthrough in GPCR structural biology has resulted in the remarkable availability of peptide-bound GPCR complexes. Despite the several structural similarities shared by these receptors, they exhibit distinct features in terms of peptide recognition and receptor activation. From this perspective, we have summarized the current status of peptide-bound GPCR structural complexes, largely focusing on the interactions between the receptor and its peptide ligand at the orthosteric site. In-depth structural investigations have yielded valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying peptide recognition. This study would contribute to the discovery of GPCR peptide drugs with improved therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Shi
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China.,Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Ultrasound Interventional, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Liping Deng
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Kui Du
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Shaoyong Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Institute of Energy Metabolism and Health, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China.,College of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
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30
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Henri J, Minder L, Mohanasundaram K, Dilly S, Goupil-Lamy A, Di Primo C, Slama Schwok A. Neuropeptides, New Ligands of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein, a Potential Link between Replication, Inflammation and Neurotransmission. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27228094. [PMID: 36432196 PMCID: PMC9698730 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27228094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This work identifies new ligands of the nucleoprotein N of SARS-CoV-2 by in silico screening, which used a new model of N, built from an Alphafold model refined by molecular dynamic simulations. The ligands were neuropeptides, such as substance P (1-7) and enkephalin, bound at a large site of the C-terminal or associated with the N-terminal β-sheet. The BA4 and BA5 Omicron variants of N also exhibited a large site as in wt N, and an increased flexibility of the BA5 variant, enabling substance P binding. The binding sites of some ligands deduced from modeling in wt N were assessed by mutation studies in surface plasmon resonance experiments. Dynamic light scattering showed that the ligands impeded RNA binding to N, which likely inhibited replication. We suggest that the physiological role of these neuropeptides in neurotransmission, pain and vasodilation for cholecystokinin and substance P could be altered by binding to N. We speculate that N may link between viral replication and multiple pathways leading to long COVID-19 symptoms. Therefore, N may constitute a "danger hub" that needs to be inhibited, even at high cost for the host. Antivirals targeted to N may therefore reduce the risk of brain fog and stroke, and improve patients' health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Henri
- Laboratoire de Biologie Computationnelle et Quantitative, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, UMR-CNRS 7238, Sorbonne Université, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Laetitia Minder
- Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie (IECB), CNRS, INSERM UAR 3033, US001, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Kevin Mohanasundaram
- Saint Antoine Hospital, Centre de Recherche Saint Antoine, Sorbonne Université, Biology and Cancer Therapeutics, INSERM U938, F-75231 Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Dilly
- Saint Antoine Hospital, Centre de Recherche Saint Antoine, Sorbonne Université, Biology and Cancer Therapeutics, INSERM U938, F-75231 Paris, France
| | - Anne Goupil-Lamy
- Biovia, Dassault Systèmes, 10 Rue Marcel Dassault, CS40501, CEDEX, F-78946 Vélizy-Villacoublay, France
| | - Carmelo Di Primo
- CNRS, INSERM, ARNA, UMR 5320, U1212, IECB, Univ. Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Anny Slama Schwok
- Saint Antoine Hospital, Centre de Recherche Saint Antoine, Sorbonne Université, Biology and Cancer Therapeutics, INSERM U938, F-75231 Paris, France
- Correspondence: or
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Yang X, Lin G, Xia A, Liu J, Zhang S, Zhou P, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhou Y, Chen P, Wang Y, Zheng T, Li L, Yang S. Discovery of Small Molecule Agonist of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor (GnRH1R). J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:5009-5022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Guifeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Anjie Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jingming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yangli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Pei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yifei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Tao Zheng
- Engineering Research Center of Medical Information Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Linli Li
- Key Laboratory of Drug Targeting and Drug Delivery System of Ministry of Education, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Shengyong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
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Ye L, Wang X, McFarland A, Madsen JJ. 19F NMR: A promising tool for dynamic conformational studies of G protein-coupled receptors. Structure 2022; 30:1372-1384. [PMID: 36130592 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Advances in X-ray crystallography and cryoelectron microscopy enabled unprecedented insights into the activation processes of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, these static receptor structures provide limited information about dynamics and conformational transitions that play pivotal roles in mediating signaling diversity through the multifaceted interactions between ligands, receptors, and transducers. Developing NMR approaches to probe the dynamics of conformational transitions will push the frontier of receptor science toward a more comprehensive understanding of these signaling processes. Although much progress has been made during the last decades, it remains challenging to delineate receptor conformational states and interrogate the functions of the individual states at a quantitative level. Here we cover the progress of 19F NMR applications in GPCR conformational and dynamic studies during the past 20 years. Current challenges and limitations of 19F NMR for studying GPCR dynamics are also discussed, along with experimental strategies that will drive this field forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libin Ye
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA; H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
| | - Xudong Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Aidan McFarland
- Department of Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Jesper J Madsen
- Global and Planetary Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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Hsin L, Fernandopulle NA, Ding J, Lumb C, Veldhuis N, Karas JA, Northfield SE, Mackay GA. The effect of substance P and its common in vivo-formed metabolites on MRGPRX2 and human mast cell activation. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2022; 10:e00990. [PMID: 35904495 PMCID: PMC9337217 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tachykinin neuropeptide substance P (SP) is the canonical agonist peptide for the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R). More recently, it has also been shown to activate the Mas‐related G protein‐coupled receptor X2 (MRGPRX2) receptor on mast cells (MCs), triggering degranulation and release of inflammatory mediators. SP undergoes rapid C‐terminal truncation in vivo by a number of proteases to generate the metabolites SP(1–9)‐COOH and in particular SP(1–7)‐COOH. While the C terminus of SP is critical for NK1R activation, studies have shown that the peptide polycationic N terminus is key for MRGPRX2 and mast cell activation. The study thus aimed to determine if the C‐terminally truncated metabolites of SP, SP(1–9)‐COOH, and SP(1–7)‐COOH retained stimulatory activity at MRGPRX2. SP, SP(1–9)‐COOH, and SP(1–7)‐COOH were synthesized and tested on HEK293 cells expressing NK1R or MRGPRX2, and LAD2 human mast cells, to determine the activity of SP and its metabolites in Ca2+ mobilization, degranulation, and cytokine assays. As expected from prior studies, both C‐terminally truncated SP metabolites had essentially no activity at NK1R, even at very high concentrations. In contrast, the in vivo metabolite of SP, SP(1–9)‐COOH retained ability to activate MRGPRX2 across all parameters tested, albeit with reduced potency compared to intact SP. SP(1–7)‐COOH did not produce any significant MRGRPX2 activation. Our results suggest that the SP metabolite, SP(1–9)‐COOH, may play a regulatory role through the activation of MRGPRX2. However, given the relatively low potency of both SP and SP(1–9)‐COOH at MRGPRX2, additional work is needed to better understand the biological importance of this expanded SP/MRGPRX2 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Hsin
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nithya A Fernandopulle
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jie Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chris Lumb
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas Veldhuis
- Drug Discovery Biology Theme, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - John A Karas
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan E Northfield
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graham A Mackay
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Chen LN, Wang WW, Dong YJ, Shen DD, Guo J, Yu X, Qin J, Ji SY, Zhang H, Shen Q, He Q, Yang B, Zhang Y, Li Q, Mao C. Structures of the endogenous peptide- and selective non-peptide agonist-bound SSTR2 signaling complexes. Cell Res 2022; 32:785-788. [PMID: 35578016 PMCID: PMC9343650 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-022-00669-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Li-Nan Chen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Structural Pharmacology and Therapeutics Development, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei-Wei Wang
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying-Jun Dong
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dan-Dan Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia Guo
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuefei Yu
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiao Qin
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Su-Yu Ji
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huibing Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qingya Shen
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Biophysics and Department of Pathology of Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Center for Structural Pharmacology and Therapeutics Development, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammatory diseases, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qinglin Li
- The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Chunyou Mao
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Center for Structural Pharmacology and Therapeutics Development, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Structural insights into the activation of neurokinin 2 receptor by neurokinin A. Cell Discov 2022; 8:72. [PMID: 35882833 PMCID: PMC9325979 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00437-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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Sedki D, Cho A, Cao Y, Nikolajev L, Atmuri NDP, Lubell WD, Laporte SA. Prostaglandin F2α and angiotensin II type 1 receptors exhibit differential cognate G protein coupling regulation. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102294. [PMID: 35872018 PMCID: PMC9418914 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Promiscuous G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) engage multiple Gα subtypes with different efficacies to propagate signals in cells. A mechanistic understanding of Gα selectivity by GPCRs is critical for therapeutic design, since signaling can be restrained by ligand–receptor complexes to preferentially engage specific G proteins. However, details of GPCR selectivity are unresolved. Here, we investigated cognate G protein selectivity using the prototypical promiscuous Gαq/11 and Gα12/13 coupling receptors, angiotensin II type I receptor (AT1R) and prostaglandin F2α receptor (FP), bioluminescence resonance energy transfer–based G protein and pathway-selective sensors, and G protein knockout cells. We determined that competition between G proteins for receptor binding occurred in a receptor- and G protein–specific manner for AT1R and FP but not for other receptors tested. In addition, we show that while Gα12/13 competes with Gαq/11 for AT1R coupling, the opposite occurs for FP, and Gαq-mediated signaling regulated G protein coupling only at AT1R. In cells, the functional modulation of biased ligands at FP and AT1R was contingent upon cognate Gα availability. The efficacy of AT1R-biased ligands, which poorly signal through Gαq/11, increased in the absence of Gα12/13. Finally, we show that a positive allosteric modulator of Gαq/11 signaling that also allosterically decreases FP–Gα12/13 coupling, lost its negative modulation in the absence of Gαq/11 coupling to FP. Together, our findings suggest that despite preferential binding of similar subsets of G proteins, GPCRs follow distinct selectivity rules, which may contribute to the regulation of ligand-mediated G protein bias of AT1R and FP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dana Sedki
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Aaron Cho
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Yubo Cao
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Ljiljana Nikolajev
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - N D Prasad Atmuri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - William D Lubell
- Department of Chemistry, University of Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3A 0B8, Canada
| | - Stéphane A Laporte
- Department of Medicine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H4A 3J1, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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Bo Q, Yang F, Li Y, Meng X, Zhang H, Zhou Y, Ling S, Sun D, Lv P, Liu L, Shi P, Tian C. Structural insights into the activation of somatostatin receptor 2 by cyclic SST analogues. Cell Discov 2022; 8:47. [PMID: 35595746 PMCID: PMC9122944 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-022-00405-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The endogenous cyclic tetradecapeptide SST14 was reported to stimulate all five somatostatin receptors (SSTR1-5) for hormone release, neurotransmission, cell growth arrest and cancer suppression. Two SST14-derived short cyclic SST analogues (lanreotide or octreotide) with improved stability and longer lifetime were developed as drugs to preferentially activate SSTR2 and treat acromegalia and neuroendocrine tumors. Here, cryo-EM structures of the human SSTR2-Gi complex bound with SST14, octreotide or lanreotide were determined at resolutions of 2.85 Å, 2.97 Å, and 2.87 Å, respectively. Structural and functional analysis revealed that interactions between β-turn residues in SST analogues and transmembrane SSTR2 residues in the ligand-binding pocket are crucial for receptor binding and functional stimulation of the two SST14-derived cyclic octapeptides. Additionally, Q1022.63, N2766.55, and F2947.35 could be responsible for the selectivity of lanreotide or octreotide for SSTR2 over SSTR1 or SSTR4. These results provide valuable insights into further rational development of SST analogue drugs targeting SSTR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Bo
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yingge Li
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xianyu Meng
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huanhuan Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yingxin Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shenglong Ling
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Demeng Sun
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Pei Lv
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Pan Shi
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Changlin Tian
- Department of Chemistry and the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Joint Center for Biological Analytical Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Peptide Drug, Anhui Laboratory of Advanced Photonic Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China. .,High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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GPCR large-amplitude dynamics by 19F-NMR of aprepitant bound to the neurokinin 1 receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122682119. [PMID: 35377814 PMCID: PMC9169749 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122682119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Comparisons of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) complexes with agonists and antagonists based on X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy structure determinations show differences in the width of the orthosteric ligand binding groove over the range from 0.3 to 2.9 Å. Here, we show that there are transient structure fluctuations with amplitudes up to at least 6 Å. The experiments were performed with the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R), a GPCR of class A that is involved in inflammation, pain, and cancer. We used 19F-NMR observation of aprepitant, which is an approved drug that targets NK1R for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Aprepitant includes a bis-trifluoromethyl-phenyl ring attached with a single bond to the core of the molecule; 19F-NMR revealed 180° flipping motions of this ring about this bond. In the picture emerging from the 19F-NMR data, the GPCR transmembrane helices undergo large-scale floating motions in the lipid bilayer. The functional implication is of extensive promiscuity of initial ligand binding, primarily determined by size and shape of the ligand, with subsequent selection by unique interactions between atom groups of the ligand and the GPCR within the binding groove. This second step ensures the wide range of different efficacies documented for GPCR-targeting drugs. The NK1R data also provide a rationale for the observation that diffracting GPCR crystals are obtained for complexes with only very few of the ligands from libraries of approved drugs and lead compounds that bind to the receptors.
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Bobyntsev II, Vorvul AO, Dolgintsev ME, Kryukov AA. Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue Surfagon on Pain Sensitivity in Rats. J EVOL BIOCHEM PHYS+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s002209302201015x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Lipiński PFJ, Matalińska J. Fentanyl Structure as a Scaffold for Opioid/Non-Opioid Multitarget Analgesics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052766. [PMID: 35269909 PMCID: PMC8910985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the strategies in the search for safe and effective analgesic drugs is the design of multitarget analgesics. Such compounds are intended to have high affinity and activity at more than one molecular target involved in pain modulation. In the present contribution we summarize the attempts in which fentanyl or its substructures were used as a μ-opioid receptor pharmacophoric fragment and a scaffold to which fragments related to non-opioid receptors were attached. The non-opioid ‘second’ targets included proteins as diverse as imidazoline I2 binding sites, CB1 cannabinoid receptor, NK1 tachykinin receptor, D2 dopamine receptor, cyclooxygenases, fatty acid amide hydrolase and monoacylglycerol lipase and σ1 receptor. Reviewing the individual attempts, we outline the chemistry, the obtained pharmacological properties and structure-activity relationships. Finally, we discuss the possible directions for future work.
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Lee S, Kim MA, Park JM, Park K, Sohn YC. Multiple tachykinins and their receptors characterized in the gastropod mollusk Pacific abalone: Expression, signaling cascades, and potential role in regulating lipid metabolism. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:994863. [PMID: 36187101 PMCID: PMC9521575 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.994863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tachykinin (TK) families, including the first neuropeptide substance P, have been intensively explored in bilaterians. Knowledge of signaling of TK receptors (TKRs) has enabled the comprehension of diverse physiological processes. However, TK signaling systems are largely unknown in Lophotrochozoa. This study identified two TK precursors and two TKR isoforms in the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai (Hdh), and characterized Hdh-TK signaling. Hdh-TK peptides harbored protostomian TK-specific FXGXRamide or unique YXGXRamide motifs at the C-termini. A phylogenetic analysis showed that lophotrochozoan TKRs, including Hdh-TKRs, form a monophyletic group distinct from arthropod TKRs and natalisin receptor groups. Although reporter assays demonstrated that all examined Hdh-TK peptides activate intracellular cAMP accumulation and Ca2+ mobilization in Hdh-TKR-expressing mammalian cells, Hdh-TK peptides with N-terminal aromatic residues and C-terminal FXGXRamide motifs were more active than shorter or less aromatic Hdh-TK peptides with a C-terminal YXGXRamide. In addition, we showed that ligand-stimulated Hdh-TKRs mediate ERK1/2 phosphorylation in HEK293 cells and that ERK1/2 phosphorylation is inhibited by PKA and PKC inhibitors. In three-dimensional in silico Hdh-TKR binding modeling, higher docking scores of Hdh-TK peptides were consistent with the lower EC50 values in the reporter assays. The transcripts for Hdh-TK precursors and Hdh-TKR were highly expressed in the neural ganglia, with lower expression levels in peripheral tissues. When abalone were starved for 3 weeks, Hdh-TK1 transcript levels, but not Hdh-TK2, were increased in the cerebral ganglia (CG), intestine, and hepatopancreas, contrasting with the decreased lipid content and transcript levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP). At 24 h post-injection in vivo, the lower dose of Hdh-TK1 mixture increased SREBP transcript levels in the CG and hepatopancreas and accumulative food consumption of abalone. Higher doses of Hdh-TK1 and Hdh-TK2 mixtures decreased the SREBP levels in the CG. When Hdh-TK2-specific siRNA was injected into abalone, intestinal SREBP levels were significantly increased, whereas administration of both Hdh-TK1 and Hdh-TK2 siRNA led to decreased SREBP expression in the CG. Collectively, our results demonstrate the first TK signaling system in gastropod mollusks and suggest a possible role for TK peptides in regulating lipid metabolism in the neural and peripheral tissues of abalone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seungheon Lee
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea
| | - Mi Ae Kim
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea
- East Coast Life Sciences Institute, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea
| | - Jong-Moon Park
- College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Keunwan Park
- Natural Product Informatics Research Center, KIST Gangneung Institute of Natural Products, Gangneung, South Korea
| | - Young Chang Sohn
- Department of Marine Bioscience, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Young Chang Sohn,
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Aprepitant Promotes Caspase-Dependent Apoptotic Cell Death and G2/M Arrest through PI3K/Akt/NF- κB Axis in Cancer Stem-Like Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Spheres. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:8808214. [PMID: 34926694 PMCID: PMC8677400 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8808214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The antagonists of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) are known for their anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antiemetic, and anticancer activities. Aprepitant, a nonpeptide NK1R antagonist, is used in nausea and vomiting, the most common side effects of cancer chemotherapy in patients. It has been established that NK1R activation by substance P (SP), which links cancer promotion and progression to a neurokinin-mediated environment, became one mechanism that corresponds to the mitogenesis of tumor cells. Therefore, this study is aimed at explaining and evaluating the anticancer impacts of aprepitant on esophageal squamous cancer cell (ESCC) spheres by using in vitro experiments, such as resazurin, ROS, annexin-V binding, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. As a result, we showed that aprepitant had strong antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects on ESCC cell spheres. Also, aprepitant caused significant G2-M cell cycle arrest depending on concentration increase. Further, exposure of cells to this agent resulted in caspase -8/-9-dependent apoptotic pathway activation by modifying the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Besides, treatment of the cells by aprepitant abrogates of the PI3K/Akt pathway, as shown by reducing the level of Akt, induces apoptotic cell death. In summary, pharmacological inhibition of NK1R with aprepitant seems to have a significant chance of treating ESCC as a single agent or in conjunction with other chemotherapeutic drugs.
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